BSU joins first TCS beach volleyball

WITH the entry of Benguet State University (BSU), the number of participants in the first True Colors BBEAL Panagbenga Women's Beach Volleyball has increased to 17.

Set on March 2-3 at the Burnham Park, the newly renamed Buffalos will stake their claim in Bracket B of the two bracket event that will also see neighbor and rival Cordillera Career Development College, University of the Philippines-Baguio, Pines City College and the city's Big Three: Saint Louis University, University of Baguio.

"Consider us in," said BSU athletic director Harland Pawid, who is in Dapitan with his athletes for the National State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association which started Sunday until February 26.

That expectedly will give CCDC a tougher time in the battle of Valley squads in the first time competition solely for college, which is bankrolled by the City of Baguio and Chadrock Mineral Resources.

There will be 10 teams in bracket B with two teams each from the Big 3 and one each from the other squads in the event supported by Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio, Baguio Country Club and Baguio City Police Office Director Jesus Cambay.

"There will be three groups, one that is four and two composed of three," said SLU athletic director and tournament director Henry Fuentes adding that the top four squads, the champions from each group and the highest ranked after the tie break will go to the semis or knockout game, whose winner will go to the finals.

"We hope to make good in the tournament. We are actually eyeing to beat even CCDC, since we are nearly equally matched," said UP Baguio libero Yra Dalao. "We have to win against them."

"This will be our first time and we are not expecting much. But it will be a long association with EJ (Daniel) and if this becomes regular then we expect to grow stronger in the succeeding years," said SLU quicker Colleen Rossi.

The 5'7" looker, who eyes a career in medicine just like her elder sister and parents, admits that UB, with Joan Lunday, and UC, expectedly with Maureen Agudia and Roxanne Almonte are the duo to beat in the seven team and tough bracket A. (Roderick Osis)